#chalicetide

Last night we lit our chalice for the first night of Chalicetide. It was the first time the Radish had ever seen a flame. (We don't light the chalice before dinner, these days we don't usually even make it to the dinner table for dinner.) Radish thought this was the best thing ever for about 2 minutes, which is a lot in baby attention span. It's so weird how doing this with a kid makes it feel so much more real. It felt like a tradition instead of this thing we just sort of do. I think the fact we decorated helped. I have a garland of rainbow wool balls up, and a rainbow of led tea lights (plain white tea lights with tubes of tissue paper in rainbow colors tape around them) in the front window. It's nice to have our own holiday. It's so hard not to fall back on the things we did as kids, because they are traditions and memories and nostalgia, even though we don't want to support some of those ideas and practices in our own home. It's also hard because the grandparents are so invested in those things. Instead, we will light our chalice and ask for forgiveness, do service for our community, work for justice and the health of our planet, and spend time with our friends and family.

Best part of the day: Chalicetide candles came in. They are a lovely rainbow of beeswax and smell so good. I've been sniffing them when I get the chance. My dad and stepmom are officially coming to visit during Chalicetide, so we'll see how that goes. Dad is an Apatheist and step mom is evangelical so we avoid religious topics in her presence. I've actually never celebrated Chalicetide anywhere there was anyone besides UUs. We shall see. However, anyone attempting to spoil my first religious holiday with my kid will be getting the boot. Not that the kid is being super cooperative. Radish has decided it's more fun to scream than eat, whether from me or from a bottle. So very frustrating. We walk. Back and forth and over again. She isn't usually patient enough for me to get her into a carrier with my fumbling newbie ways, so I carry her a lot. My neck, back, and wrists all hate me. Got to practice more with the ring sling so I can get her in with a good seat.